Charleen (Burke) Godleski

Charleen (Burke) Godleski, 91 of Rutland, VT passed away peacefully at the Rutland Regional Medical Center on June 13, 2026, surrounded by family. She was lovingly cared for by nieces and nephews in her final years, including Joseph and Jerry Thompson, as well as Lisa Shappy and Dagyne Canney. Born August 12, 1934, at Rutland Hospital, Charleen was a beloved and devoted daughter to Beatrice and Matthew Burke, Sr. and a treasured sister to Matthew Burke Jr., Ellanora Thompson, and Claire Sullivan, all of whom predeceased her. Charleen was raised on North Street in Rutland and spent her summers at her family’s cottage on Lake Bomoseen, where she continued to enjoy visiting and rocking on the porch throughout her life. In 1970 she married Stanley Godleski and moved to the beautiful Godleski farm in West Rutland, where she and Stan spent many years together hosting family gatherings for both sides of their family. Char and Stan were members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in West Rutland.

To many of us, Charleen was “Aunt Char”, a constant, loving presence in our lives. She warmly shared her light with her nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. She enjoyed trips to the ocean with Stan and later with her sister Claire. She made fresh chocolate chip cookies for her brother Matt when he came to town. Charleen also took pleasure in many pets throughout her life. She and Stan shared their home with many cats, and in her later years, she and her sister Ellanora cherished their King Charles Cavaliers in their shared home. In Rutland, Char was a member of Christ the King Parish.

Charleen was also a respected business woman in Rutland. She worked at Quebec Cigar Company for nearly 50 years, where she made many life-long friends, including Jean Crowley and Anna Ryan. She also served as the business manager at Chaffee Art Center. Char enjoyed connections to friends who were classmates from Rutland High School class of 1952 with whom she would gather and play cards regularly.

Her warm and loving spirit, as well as her no-nonsense perspective on life, will be sorely missed by her family. Funeral mass will be held at 11 am, Monday, July 6 at Christ the King Church.